Help with medical appointments

[Faroutbrussel]

I need to make appointments to deal with a health issue that I have been putting off for at least a couple of years.

Whenever I think about it I feel so scared and anxious, that I have to stop and put it to the back of my mind, but at the same time I spend a lot of time worrying about the issue. It's a vicious circle as obviously I need to get the issue looked at by a professional and logic tells me time will only make it worse, better to get treated etc.

I am scared of making the appointment and scared to go to the appointment, I am scared i will breakdown and be uncontrollably upset and crying with nerves and i am also worried that I have a serious problem that I won't be able to cope with. I am definitely having some medical issues but I know I am probably catastophying it.

All this means I feel like I'm stuck doing nothing and the whole situation is really stating to impact on my life.

I only have one person who I could rely on to come with me but I am reluctant to ask as it would mean them taking time of work and also them seeing me at my most vulnerable (possibly hysterical). I can't even bring myself to branch the subject as I am sure they will encourage me to make said appointment and this will force me to confront the issue or that they will minimise it all and that would also make me feel bad.

All in all I'm in a bit of a pickle, I don't know how to proceed. Any ideas?

That sounds a horrible situation. I can empathise a bit. After my second child I started to get breathless a lot, I wold gulp for air, it was horrible and scary and my H kept saying how he knew someone with a serious heart condition who did this. My mum noticed, I told her it was because of DD having been breach and putting pressure on my lungs. I was getting really worried about it and the more I worried the worse it got. I went to the GP and they referred me for all kinds of tests includinga chest x-ray. Physically I was totally fine. It was in fact entirely symptomatic of anxiety and a result of being married to a total bastard, but at the time I couldn't see that the anxiety was a cause. It was awful. I guess the message for you (not knowing your physical issues) is that the anxiety you have created will not be helping them, while it may not be a cause like with me, it is amazing what anxiety can do to you physically.

Anyway, more practically, I would suggest that you contact your local PALS - they were great when I had to contact them recently. You could probably email them if that would be an easier way to get all your thoughts down. From your post it feels like you need someone independent but trusted to help you? Could it also be helpful to email your GP surgery? I find emails so much easier for everything when I feel anxious.

Hi OP. I can understand how it has magnified in your mind and the worry and pressure seems to make it impossible to make a move. I have a very demanding job hours wise and found I had missed appointments etc and screening tests and was getting really worked up about it as time went by.
I think you sound very bottled up and it might help just to talk to someone , either on here, or in person. That way a lot of the anxiety and pressure will disperse before you even go to the appt.
It's good you have taken a first step by posting on here, would you be able to tell someone close- mum, sister, friend, partner? I don't have family so I understand if not.
Just because you feel worried doesn't mean you are likely to have a serious problem. Can you say what sort of problem it is ? Ie is it a missed smear, bleeding, rectal bleeding, a mole, a lump in breast . Is it anything like that? If it helps I went recently for a smear after about eight years, it was ok and result normal. But I felt so rubbish before going.